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LTA EMF update

LTA EMF update. Sakari Lang, PhD Chairman, MMF Research Working Group. Head, EMF Research & Standards Standardization & Industry Relations NOKIA CORPORATION. Presentation outline. Mobile phones – media activity RF dosimetry Established RF effects Exposure guidelines

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LTA EMF update

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  1. LTA EMF update Sakari Lang, PhD Chairman, MMF Research Working Group Head, EMF Research & Standards Standardization & Industry Relations NOKIA CORPORATION

  2. Presentation outline • Mobile phones – media activity • RF dosimetry • Established RF effects • Exposure guidelines • Current status of research on mobile telephony and health • Concluding remarks

  3. Mobile Manufacturers Forum

  4. Background to the MMF • International association of radio equipment manufacturers • Representing around 90% of global handset sales; and • The providers of the majority of global network infrastructure • Association's focus: EMF and health • With particular emphasis on supporting research • Related areas of activity: standards and regulatory harmonisation and public communications

  5. Mobile phone subscriptions 3 billion by end of 2010 3 000 Mobile phone subscriptions globally, millions 2 800 2 600 2 400 2 200 2 000 1 800 Current global penetration 28 % 1 600 1 400 1 200 1 000 800 600 400 200 0 -92 -93 -94 -95 -96 -97 -98 -99 -00 -01 -02 -04 -05 e -10 e -03 Source: Nokia at 3GSM Cannes, February 2005

  6. Mobile telephony & health • Year 2010 about 3 billion mobile phone users → Concerns about adverse health effects • Biological and potential health effects of RF energy have been studied for about 60 years • Biomedical research effort on mobile telephony signals extensive today • Effects due to significant RF heating well-established -> fundamental basis for exposure standards • Increasing number of anecdotal reports and speculative media articles

  7. BIOLOGICAL vs ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS • A biological effect occurs when exposure to electromagnetic waves causes some noticeable or detectable physiological change in a biological system • An adverse health effect occurs when the biological effect is outside the normal range for the body to compensate, and thus leads to some detrimental health condition

  8. WHAT DOES PHYSICS TELL US? Photon energies v. effects on matter

  9. WHAT DOES PHYSICS TELL US? • Energy of one 900 MHz photon  0.01% of average thermal energy (kT) in the body •  significant exposure needed to increase body temperature • Energy of one 900 MHz photon is  0.004% of the chemical bond energy •  breakdown of chemical bond not plausible

  10. BIOPHYSICS OF RADIOFREQUENCY FIELDS

  11. Magnetic field Electric field Heating, photochemical reactions Circulating currents Epidermis Dermis Non-ionizing radiation – effects on human Low-frequency electric and magnetic fields f = 0 - 30 kHz  =  – 10 km Radio frequency electromagnetic fields f = 30 kHz – 300GHz  = 10 km – 1 mm Optical radiation f = 300 GHz-1000 THz  = 1 mm – 100 nm Radiowave Optical radiation Surface charge Currents Heating

  12. Established thermal effects for RF Fields of 1 MHz - 10 GHz • A whole-body SAR of at least 4 W/kg (1 °C temperature rise) is needed to produce physiological effect (behavioral disruption in laboratory animals) • Birth defects, if the temperature rise of the fetus by 2-3 °C for hours • Under most environmental conditions, a given tissue or organ (and probably body) must attain a temperature of at least 43 °C before a level constituting a hazard may be reached such as cataract formation (power density1000 W/m2, SAR > 100 W/kg) • The time required to produce a full thickness burn in human skin ranges from 100 min at 45 °C to ~5 sec at 60 °C

  13. Established critical temperature levels (produced by RF energy or other types of heating) in various species, organs or tissues leading to adverse biological effects

  14. Portability requires a mechanism • > 400 studies cover wide range of frequencies and modulations Do not support the “non-thermal hypothesis” • Biophysical analyses and reviews do not support that non-thermal interactions are plausible at mobile telephony frequencies • Examination of biological effects literature does not provide a consistent body of data supporting theoretical postulates on “non-thermal” mechanisms  Large mobile-telephony-health research database portable to new technologies

  15. Biophysical mechanisms – current views Although RF energy can affect bulk matter, inspection of many mechanisms has showed that • By very large factors, energy cannot be sufficiently concentrated to the cellular and molecular dimensions needed to change chemical structure or binding • Damping by water is a fundamental obstacle • Signals far below noise levels have no effect

  16. Conclusions • Cellular metabolism can be affected by relatively small (order of 1 K) temperature changes • Specialized sensitive receptors/organs respond to small temperature differences (<0.1 K) • Temperature differences >0.1 K) between points separated by subcellular dimensions are not possible due to thermal diffusion and are not plausible mechanisms for causing microwave biological effects.

  17. Exposure from mobile phone GSM handset • SAR non-uniform (local SAR value usually below 1 W/kg in 10 g tissue mass) • Temperature more uniform • Equilibrium temperature increase is <0.2 °C at maximum van Leeuwen GMJ et al. Phys. Med. Biol. 44 (1999) 2367.

  18. Van Leeuwen et al 1999: T in head (10 g average mass, antenna average emitted power of 0.25 W) SAR (W/kg) Peak 10g cube 10g any 4.0 0.91 1.66

  19. SAR distribution in various head models A B C D 2450 1800 900 A: Female B: Male C: 3-y D: 7-y

  20. Base stations – exposures and health

  21. Exposures from base station • Fields are hundreds to thousands of times weaker than near handset • SAR many thousand to millions times weaker than near handset • Population base station exposures in only a small fraction of ICNIRP power density limit • Range 0.00007 mW/m2 - 3 mW/m2 • ICNIRP limit 4,5 W/m2 at 900 MHz) • Reflections make fields non-uniform in buildings and some outdoor environments

  22. Population base station exposures in Europe (ICNIRP limit 4,5 W/m2at 900 MHz) a) 30 – 2000 MHz, Göteborg and various sites, Sweden (Uddmar T, Thesis, Chalmers U., 1999) b) GSM900 GSM 1800 downlinks at 9 residential locations, Mainz (Schüz & Mann, J Expos Analysis & Env Epi 10:600, 2000) c) GSM900, GSM1800 downlinks only, 272 locations, Germany (Haumann et al., 2nd Int’l Workshop, Rhodes, 2002 p 327)

  23. M. Swicord, WHO conference, Bangkok, 01/2004

  24. Flux of electromagnetic energy • ICNIRP limit 4.5 W/m2 at 900 MHz • a) 30 – 2000 MHz, Göteborg and various sites, Sweden (Uddmar T, Thesis, Chalmers U., 1999)

  25. Who Sets RF Safety Standards? • ICNIRP • guidelines developed by a relatively small committee of appointed experts, no industry members • closed meetings • Endorsed by WHO • ICES • large committee open to anyone with a material interest • open consensus process • National agencies and standards bodies

  26. IEEE/ICNIRP: WHOLE-BODY LIMITS

  27. Standard Condition Frequency Whole Body Local SAR (head and trunk) Local SAR (limbs) ICNIRP (1998) Occupational 100 kHz-10 GHz 0.4 10 W/kg 20 (10g) ICNIRP (1998) General population 100 kHz-10 GHz 0.08 2 W/kg (applied for mobile phones) 4 (10g) ICNIRP basic restrictions Basic SAR Restrictions (W/kg)

  28. “Science journalism”… Indian Business Insight (9 Sept 2003) claims a study has shown that the use of mobile phones might lead to long-time health hazards. The article says the use of mobile phone can lead to brain cancer, brain tumour, destruction of brain cells and might lead to early Alzheimer's disease. The radiation is likely to affect the brain's blood brain barrier, creating problems with memory and processing functions while disturbing sleep patterns. Other consequences of using mobile phones include learning, concentration and behavioural disorders, extreme fluctuation in blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, heart attack and strokes, brain degenerative diseases, epilepsy and leukaemia among others.

  29. Peer-reviewed papers describing biological and health effects of RF fields Studies are listed on the WHO web site under "citation listings": http://www.who.int/peh-emf/research/database/en/ A study represents a single paper published in a peer reviewed journal (All studies are listed on the WHO web site: http://www.who.int/peh-emf/research/database/en/)

  30. Mobile telephony relevant projects in the WHO database Research Study typeOngoingCompletedTotal • Cancer relevant or related Epidemiology 25 20 45 Animal studies 22 49 71 Cellular studies 34 59 93 Total cancer studies 81 128 209 • Non-cancer studies Epidemiology 5 10 15 Human studies 39 59 98 Animal studies 13 45 58 Cellular studies 9 15 24 Total non-cancer studies 76 129 195 Totals 157 257 414 All studies are listed on the WHO web site: http://www-nt.who.int/peh-emf/database.htm A project may include one or more published papers and/or ongoing follow-on work

  31. Mobile phone prevalence and brain tumor incidence: Finland

  32. Malignant brain tumors

  33. Problems with epidemiology Buy a mobile phone Epidemiological study on mobile phone use & cancer Cancer diagnosed Cancer starts developing 1985 2005 2006 1995 Research conclusion: the mobile phone use is correlated with cancer Correlation does not mean causation!!!

  34. Human laboratory studies

  35. Human laboratory studies • Cognitive function and memory • Improved or hindered cognitive function and memory in humans under mobile phone exposure • Reported changes very small in magnitude • Non-replicated findings • EEG, sleep disturbances and event-related potentials • Both EEG and sleep findings inconsistent and not replicated • Replication attempts ongoing • Headache and fatigue • correlations between headache and RF exposure derived data from subjects through questionnaires. • Problems with bias not clearly addressed in these studies • Lack of relevant exposure assessment disallows any meaningful dose-response to substantiate the reported effects • Two controlled laboratory provocation studies examining the effects of RF exposure on headaches have reported no effect

  36. Human laboratory studies • Hypersensitivity • Well-performed laboratory studies with controlled provocation in normal and self-claimed hypersensitive subjects have reported no association between the self-reported hypersensitivity and RF exposure from mobile phones • Blood pressure & heart rate • Effect not confirmed by well-conducted laboratory studies • Animal studies that have reported effects of RF exposure on BP and HR, have all been at clearly thermal exposure levels • Conclusions: No consistent evidence exists to indicate an adverse effect of low-level RF exposure on the nervous system. However, because of the variety of different effects reported by some investigators and the many contradictory reports, research in this area continues.

  37. Mobile phones and children

  38. WHO - children • With more and more research data available, it has become increasingly unlikely that exposure to electromagnetic fields constitutes a serious health hazard, nevertheless, some uncertainty remains. • Present scientific information does not indicate the need for any special precautions for use of mobile phones. If individuals are concerned, they might choose to limit their own or their children's' RF exposure by limiting the length of calls, or using "hands-free" devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body. • There have been suggestions that exposure of young children to electromagnetic fields (EMF) may be detrimental to their health, especially during the development and maturation of the central nervous system, immune system and other critical organs.(Introduction “WHO Workshop sensitivity of Children to EMF Exposure 9 June 2004 - 10 June 2004 Istanbul, Turkey”)

  39. FDA/USA – children – mobile phones • "The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones, including children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to lower exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF), the measures described above would apply to children and teenagers using wireless phones. Reducing the time of wireless phone use and increasing the distance between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure”. • “Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all. For example, the government in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a recommendation in December 2000. They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard exists”.

  40. Children – mobile phones – health Facts – what is science telling us? • Exposure to mobile phones • RF energy absorption does not differ significantly between adult and child heads • Health effects • No established scientific evidence that developing organisms, such as children, would be more sensitive to RF fields

  41. Scientific expert group reviews A review of the extensive literature on RF biological effects, consisting of well over 1300 primary peer reviewed publications published as early as 1950, reveals no adverse health effects that are not thermally related. This conclusion is consistent with those reached by other scientific expert groups including the: • Australian Government, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Committee on Electromagnetic Energy Public Health Issues • European Commission Expert Group • European Committee on Toxicology, Eco-toxicology and the Environment (CSTEE) • France’s Commission for Consumer Safety (the French Expert Report) (‘Zmirou report’ to the French Health General Directorate) • Health Council of the Netherlands • Hong Kong - Office of the Telecommunications Authority • International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection • Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications • New Zealand Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment • Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel • Singapore Health Sciences Authority • Swedish State Radiation Protection Authority • U.K. Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones • U.K. National Radiological Protection Board U.S. Food and Drug Administration • World Health Organization

  42. WHO statement 2004 • Conclusions from scientific research“In the area of biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation approximately 25,000 articles have been published over the past 30 years. Despite the feeling of some people that more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals. Based on a recent in-depth review of the scientific literature, the WHO concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields. However, some gaps in knowledge about biological effects exist and need further research”.. • http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html

  43. WHO health risk assessment of EMF 0-300 GHz • Methodology • Evaluation of research data • Based on peer-reviewed published papers • Use weight-of-evidence approach i.e. consider relevant, well-established, replicated results and coherence of the data • Replication vs. confirmation studies • IARC cancer review Spring 2007 • WHO assessment of RF energy 2007-2008 • Environmental health criteria (EHC) document covering 0-300 Ghz • Continuation of WHO EMF project? • ICNIRP exposure standard revision started (< 100 KHz) 

  44. Research Conclusions • The weight of evidence suggests that RF energy does not induce cancers or promote cancer development • No consistent evidence exists to indicate an adverse effect of low-level RF (below safety guidelines) exposure on the nervous system. • However, because of the variety of different effects reported by some investigators and the many contradictory reports, research in this area continues.

  45. Conclusions • Increased use of wireless communication technology has triggered extensive media debates and also caused public concerns often based on misleading information by poorly conducted studies • Biological and potential health effects of RF energy have been studied for about 60 years • WHO database contains about 1500 peer-reviewed scientific papers describing biological and health effects of RF energy • ICNIRP and IEEE standards setting processes are based on a rigorous review of scientific literature • No adverse health effects have been observed below the internationally accepted exposure limits (ICNIRP and IEEE)

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